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8 min read
Reader ratingreader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score
4.7
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The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing by Clea Shearer & Joanna Teplin Review: A Celebrity-Approved, Room-by-Room Organizing System
by Clea Shearer, Joanna Teplin
Published by Clarkson Potter in March 2019, The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing is a practical home-organization guide from Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, co-founders of The Home Edit and stars of the Netflix series Get Organized with The Home Edit. The book walks readers through a room-by-room philosophy that merges conventional organization principles with interior design sensibility, covering spaces from the entryway and kitchen to the bedroom and bathroom. It draws on the duo's signature color-coded, label-everything approach — the same system that earned them a devoted celebrity and social-media following — and translates it into accessible steps for everyday households. Praised by outlets including Real Simple, Architectural Digest, and Good Morning America, the guide is designed for anyone ready to tackle clutter with a method that is both systematic and, by Shearer and Teplin's own intent, fun.
LuvemBooks Verdict
Best for
Readers who want a visually guided, room-by-room home organization system and are drawn to the aesthetic dimension of tidiness — particularly fans of Shearer and Teplin's Netflix series or social-media content who want a structured, humor-laced framework to apply at home.
Worth it if
You're ready to invest in organizational supplies (matching containers, labeled bins, color-sorted arrangements) and want a friendly, step-by-step entry point that treats tidiness as both a functional and design practice.
Skip if
You're looking for a minimalist or purely low-cost decluttering approach, or your living spaces differ significantly from the aspirational, product-forward interiors the system was built around.
What readers & critics say
Econogal praised Shearer and Teplin's straightforward, conversational approach — noting the book reads like a dialogue between the authors rather than a prescriptive manual. Times of India described their signature method as explaining decluttering in an easy, aesthetically pleasing way, with items grouped by how they "flow" through a space.
Sources: Econogal, Times of India4.7from 14,698 Amazon ratings— reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score
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The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin is a room-by-room home-organization guide that merges practical decluttering strategies with interior design sensibility, built around their signature color-coded, label-forward, matching-container system. Praised by Real Simple, Architectural Digest, and Good Morning America, it stands out from clinical decluttering manuals thanks to its visual photos, clear steps, and humor-laced tone. It's an ideal fit for readers drawn to aesthetically pleasing organization — though those working with limited budgets or smaller, less uniform spaces may find the aspirational framework a stretch to replicate.
- Is it worth reading?
- For readers who want a visually guided, system-driven approach to home organization and are attracted to the aesthetic dimension of tidiness, The Home Edit delivers genuine value — praised by outlets including Real Simple, Architectural Digest, and Good Morning America for its clarity, humor, and breadth. The room-by-room structure makes the system approachable, and the book earns credit for tackling notoriously stubborn spaces like the junk drawer rather than limiting itself to easy wins. The key caveat is that the system presupposes a willingness to invest in organizational supplies, and readers seeking a minimalist or low-cost approach may find the framework less directly transferable.
- Similar books
- Readers who enjoy The Home Edit will find much to appreciate in Shira Gill's Organized Living: Solutions and Inspiration for Your Home, which similarly blends practical storage guidance with design sensibility. Toni Hammersley's The Complete Book of Home Organization offers a comprehensive room-by-room framework for those who want even more structural depth. For the decluttering philosophy side, Marie Kondō's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is the iconic counterpoint — a more minimalist, item-by-item approach that contrasts interestingly with Shearer and Teplin's aesthetic-first system. Gretchen Rubin's Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter and Organize to Make More Room for Happiness takes a lighter, habit-focused angle, while Joanna Gaines' Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave will appeal to readers who share The Home Edit's interest in making a home both organized and beautiful.
- Who should read this?
- The Home Edit is aimed squarely at readers who want a visually guided, system-driven approach to home organization and care about the aesthetic dimension of tidiness — not just function, but the look of an organized space. It's a natural fit for fans of the Netflix series Get Organized with The Home Edit or the Hello Sunshine production Mastering the Mess, both featuring Shearer and Teplin, as well as for social-media followers of home-organization content who want a structured framework to apply at home. First-time organizers looking for a friendly, step-by-step entry point will also find the room-by-room structure a manageable way in.
- Tell me about the adaptation
- Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin star in the Netflix series Get Organized with The Home Edit, which brings their organizing methodology to life on screen in real client homes. The book functions as a codified companion to that on-screen work — readers already familiar with the show will recognize the philosophy, and the book offers the structured, written framework to apply it room by room at home. The duo also appear in the Hello Sunshine production Mastering the Mess, extending their media presence beyond the Netflix series.
- Does the system require a big shopping list?
- The Home Edit's approach is built around specific product categories — matching containers, labeled bins, and color-sorted arrangements — that presuppose a willingness to invest in organizational supplies and to maintain a particular aesthetic standard over time. This is one of the book's noted caveats: readers should expect that achieving the full visual effect of Shearer and Teplin's system may require a meaningful upfront investment in supplies. Those seeking a purely low-cost or buy-nothing approach will likely need to adapt the framework significantly.
- Does it cover hard-to-organize spaces?
- Yes — one of the book's noted strengths is that it directly addresses notoriously difficult spaces rather than limiting itself to easy wins. The junk drawer is tackled explicitly, and the room-by-room scope spans everything from entryways and kitchens to bathrooms and bedrooms, including specific suggestions like pull-out shelves and drawer organizers for the kitchen, over-the-door shoe organizers for the bathroom, and under-bed storage containers for the bedroom.
Summarize this book
Is it worth reading?
Who should read this?
Tell me about the adaptation
Does the system require a big shopping list?
Does it cover hard-to-organize spaces?
Summarize this book
The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing, published by Clarkson Potter in March 2019, is a room-by-room home-organization guide from Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, co-founders of The Home Edit professional organizing company. The book moves systematically through spaces — entryway, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and beyond — offering tailored storage strategies for each, such as pull-out shelves and drawer organizers in the kitchen and under-bed storage in the bedroom. Throughout, Shearer and Teplin translate their celebrity-project signature system — rainbow color-coding, matching baskets, labeled jars — into steps any household can follow, delivered with the humor that earned them a devoted social-media following.
Follow up
What format does the book take?
Is it connected to the Netflix show?
What is the core organizing philosophy?
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Age & Reading Level
Recommended age
Adult
Reading level
Adult
who it suits
Skip if you're looking for a minimalist, low-cost, or buy-nothing approach to decluttering
Our Review
This review covers the content and verified reception of The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing from published sources; it does not reflect hands-on use or personal application of the methods.
What the Book Is and How It's Structured
The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals by Clea Shearer, Joanna Teplin front cover
The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing, published by Clarkson Potter on March 19, 2019, is a room-by-room home-organization guide written by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, the co-founders of The Home Edit professional organizing company. The book is organized space by space: it opens with the entryway — often the first impression a home makes — then moves through the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and beyond. Each section presents storage strategies tailored to that specific room, including suggestions such as pull-out shelves and drawer organizers in the kitchen, over-the-door shoe organizers and wall-mounted shelves in the bathroom, and under-bed storage containers in the bedroom. The overall framework is built on Shearer and Teplin's goal of merging conventional organization with interior design, treating tidiness not as a chore but as a considered aesthetic practice.
The Signature Philosophy and Its Cultural Moment
What distinguishes this guide from a generic decluttering manual is the specific, branded philosophy its authors bring to it. As Today has noted, Shearer and Teplin are the professionals behind the impeccably organized pantries and color-coded closets that appear in celebrity homes across social media — clients have included Khloé Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow, as Good Morning America reported. The book translates that same rainbow-coded, matching-basket, labeled-jar system into guidance any household can apply. Architectural Digest observed that The Home Edit has cultivated its loyal following through a streamlined philosophy delivered with humor, and that the book functions as a room-by-room guide to exactly that philosophy. The result is a title that arrived at the peak of a broader cultural enthusiasm for visible, aesthetically pleasing organization — the moment when a well-arranged refrigerator became a social-media genre of its own.
Strengths: Accessibility, Scope, and Tone
Several major outlets pointed to the book's accessibility and breadth as genuine assets. Real Simple highlighted that the guide is illustrated with photos and presents clear steps, positioning it as practical support for readers tackling organizing resolutions. The coverage spans even notoriously stubborn spaces — the junk drawer is addressed directly — and the publisher's own framing promises that the process is "not hard to do — in fact, it's a lot of fun." The tone Shearer and Teplin bring, consistently described by media coverage as laced with humor, sets the book apart from more clinical organization manuals. Architectural Digest specifically noted the "hilarious punch lines" woven into their philosophy, suggesting the writing is designed to lower the psychological barrier that makes decluttering feel overwhelming for many readers.
Limitations and Honest Caveats
Because this is a functional how-to guide, its ultimate value depends on whether a given reader's home, budget, and habits align with Shearer and Teplin's system. The approach is built around specific product categories — matching containers, labeled bins, color-sorted arrangements — that presuppose a willingness to invest in organizational supplies and to maintain a particular aesthetic standard over time. Readers seeking a minimalist or purely low-cost approach, or those whose spaces differ significantly from the aspirational interiors the authors typically work in, may find the framework less directly transferable. The book's roots in high-profile celebrity projects are a selling point for many readers, but they can also set an aspirational bar that everyday kitchens or entryways don't easily match.
Who This Book Is For
The Home Edit is aimed squarely at readers who want a visually guided, system-driven approach to home organization and are drawn to the aesthetic dimension of tidiness — not just functionality, but the look of an organized space. It is a natural fit for fans of the Netflix series Get Organized with The Home Edit or the Hello Sunshine production Mastering the Mess, both of which feature Shearer and Teplin, as well as for readers who follow home-organization content on social media and want a structured framework to apply at home. Those already familiar with the duo's work will find the book a codified version of the methodology they've seen on screen and online. First-time organizers looking for a friendly, step-by-step entry point into the practice will also find the room-by-room structure a manageable way in.
Sources & Further Reading
The key facts and claims in this review are grounded in the retrieved, verified sources listed below.
- Cited in this review
- 1
- 2
- 3
- Further reading
- 4
- 5
5minutebooksummary.com
- 6
econogal.com
- 7
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